The current issue of "Rue Morgue" has a very positive review of the new "Spike" one-shot from IDW, written by yours truly. Whad'ja think?
PAD
Posted by Peter David at August 13, 2005 11:23 AM | TrackBack | Other blogs commentingIsn't it dirty pool to be writing your own positive reviews? :-)
Ohhhhhh ... the ISSUE was written by you. Gotcha.
I didn't realize it was out -- my shop didn't pull it for me. Grr. I'll have to look for it later this weekend.
TWL
Wednesday, I think. I marked it on my calendar weeks ago...
I don't think it shipped this week as we ordered some and haven't gotten them yet. It wasn't on Diamond's shipping list for Aug 10 and it's not there again for the 17.
I think someone lied to you, Peter.
Well, IDW gave me the August 10 in-store date, and the book existed in finished form since the San Diego con, so I've no idea why it wouldn't be in stores when it was supposed to be.
PAD
I didn't get it at my shop, and I know I ordered it. Tell me it's been delayed! I'd hate to think I got screwed on getting my copies. I have Peter David and Spike/Angel?Buffy fans who want that book.
Matt Hawes
COMICS UNLIMITED
654-B E. Diamond Avenue
Evansville, IN. 47711
I just check Diamond Comics's website's shipping lists (the only real list you can go by), and it wasn't listed for this week. I didn't see it on the list for next week, either. Hmmm. Hopefully, it will be soon.
Matt Hawes
COMICS UNLIMITED
654-B E. Diamond Avenue
Evansville, IN. 47711
Peter, I do not think it came out. comiclist.com did not list SPIKE as coming out last Wednesday and their weekly list of comics is pretty dependable.
On the other hand, the latest issue of THE INCREDIBLE HULK came out. Very enjoyable. I will miss you when you leave this book.
From the Spike entry at the IDW online store:
This product will be in stock on Wednesday 17 August, 2005.
As of last Wednesday, Fourth World Comics in Smithtown didn't have it.
They told me it hadn't been shipped yet.
Glad someone made sure about the date because it didn't show up at the shop I go to, and I'd be all manic if I didn't get the PAD written comics!
Didn't ship to my LCS, either -- and I was there helping fill subscriptions this week, so I'd have seen it. I also don't see it on Diamond's ship list for next week, but I didn't see any other IDW titles, either, so it may be that they just don't list 'em until Monday. In any event, I'm greatly looking forward to this. Hope it's as big a hit as the SERENITY comic is turning out to be, with nationwide sellouts and second printings and insane demand.
Well, Chris at IDW now tells me they just got in their copies at the office (the ones at San Diego were specially shipped in) and that typically it takes two weeks for them to show up on the stands once they're in the office. Which means either the 17th (although it's not on the Diamond ship list for then) or the 25th.
Could someone let me know when they see the damned book in the store?
PAD
Will do, PAD!
Matt Hawes
COMICS UNLIMITED
654-B E. Diamond Avenue
Evansville, IN. 47711
have made a note to watch for it, with my trusty bluesclues notebook.
hey don't laugh, its bright, cheery and it can't get lost very easily, plus it works darned well with dry erase markers!
Is this Spike issue going to be collected in any IDW Angel TPBs?
It's definetly not going to be the 17th, since it's not invoiced.
But if Diamond has their copies now, it should come out next week (the 25th) for sure.
On a related note, I'm not sure whats happened, but IDW used to be great about hitting dates, but the past 6 months or so, they've started slipping horribly, and now, are as bad as Avatar for many of their books.
>It's definetly not going to be the 17th, since it's not invoiced.
Since it was delayed from its original release date, it may show up this Wednesday. They don't update the release list for this week until 5p.m. today. *Cross your fingers*
Fred
I have been waiting for this book for a while now, but it doesn't look like it is shipping this week.
Hopefully it will in on the shelves soon.
Regards:
Warren S. Jones III
Ah, I was scared that I missed it. Not a big fan of Buffy or Joss Wheadon (as a writer of course, I'm sure he's a great guy), but I am a fan of Peter David. It shall be purchased by me upon its eventual release.
In other news, didn't know quite where to post this, but I saw this on Warren Ellis's webiste and wanted to spread the word. In Warren's own words, Devner thinks he's dirty."
-Amichai
Fred,
We receive our invoices on the Friday before the Wednesday releases and Spike was not there. Most likely, if the book is in motion, it won't be around until the 24th.
For some reason my links didn't work.
Now manually the link for the story (censorship and Denver Public libraries):
http://www.warrenellis.com/?p=1105
Sorry about that.
-Amichai
Spike is scheduled to hit shelves August 24th.
Thanks.
- Dan
>>>It's definetly not going to be the 17th, since it's not invoiced.
Since it was delayed from its original release date, it may show up this Wednesday. They don't update the release list for this week until 5p.m. today. *Cross your fingers*
Sorry, to clarify, I meant it wasn't on my retailer invoice, which is 100% accurate of what is shipping to me. I get it on Fridays for the next week shipment. I'll know this Friday if it's shipping the 24th or not.
>> which is 100% accurate of what is shipping to me. I get it on Fridays for the next week shipment. I'll know this Friday if it's shipping the 24th or not.
Well, only sometimes it's 100% accurate, at least for my store. Usually, it is very close.
Dave
Reader's World
Well, we got them in here at the IDW offices late last week. So, they're on their way - probably the 24th in retail stores.
And, they look and read great by the way.
{ jennifer: Is the review online anywhere? }
that would be a © issue jen.
gotta read the magazine for now sweetpea.
I did spot an IGN article from May that enlisted some of Peter's comments about the book, but no one is posting the rue review as of yet.
In case anyone checks here or cares, just checked my shipping invoice for next week (The 24th) and Spike--Old Times is on this invoice. So in the middle of the country we are getting ours, so I expect everyone else to be getting them as well.
that would be a © issue jen.
gotta read the magazine for now sweetpea.
Not if were published online by the author or on the magazines website - which is what I meant.
BTW, I got my copies of the comic today and its quite good. Halfrek still isn't my first choice for a storyline with Spike, but I think PAD did a good job of capturing Spike's voice.
On a semi-related note (that of PAD playing in one of Joss Whedon's sandboxes), while reading Serenity #2 today, I noticed the add for the movie novelization, which also mentioned a forthcoming series of original novels.
Something you might be interested in pitching for, Peter? (Yeah, like a li'l ol' reader can offer a pitch meeting. But, hey...if the folks at Mutant Enemy react favorably to the Spike one-shot, is it really unthinkable that they might recommend New York Times-bestselling author Peter David to the publisher?)
Are you going to write a 4th Apropos? Because if you are not, how you ended the last page was cruel. I have loved Apropos for 4 years and have gotten 10 others to read and love him. I know that we would all love to see him come back.
I just finished reading Old Times and I loved the ending...
I have a question about continuity...does this event occur before or after the series finale of Angel NOT FADE AWAY?
Either way I really enjoyed this comic. Its nice to see William the Bloody back in action.
Kudos.
Regards:
Warren S. Jones III
I really liked it. The ending was great. Very "Whedonesque". But like others, I also wonder about the time frame. It MUST take place before the Angel series finally because Halfrek has been dead a year when that episode takes place. I would say that it also must take place before the Buffy Season Six episode "Older and Far Away" because their meeting in "Old Times" seems to be their first since he was vamped. In "Older and Far Away" they recognize each other as Spike and Halfrek instead of William and Cecily. However, it must take place AFTER the Buffy Season Four Episode "In The Harsh Light Of Day" because he had to be with Harmony already. If I had to pinpoint it, I'd say that it takes place right after that, after the Angel episode "In The Dark", where Spike is in LA trying to get the Gem of Amara back from Angel. If that's the case it would be a little out of character for him to help a human because he doesn't have a chip or a soul. Though I guess it makes sense because he was just trying to piss Halfrek off. (God, do I sound like an uber-nerd or what?) All in all, I give it a thumbs up. Great job.
Not bad, but not great. Peter, you’ve been successfully reversing people’s expectations for so long that I, for one, have come to expect the reversal. As soon as I read that dudestein would be fine if he survived past midnight, I knew that he would be dead just past midnight.
My store never received a copy, so they're trying to back order it. Hopefully, that won't prove difficult.
Rick
I thought that Halfrek actually mentioned Dawn's birthday party in this issue...is that right?
My shop's copies were all damaged, so I read it there, but have to wait until the replacements are sent.
My store was shorted to the extreme, receiving only 2 copies, not even enough for those actually preordered by customers. I was fortunate enough that a worker gave me his copy. A bit beat up, since Diamond seems to have it in for comic dealers or at least mine. Haven't had a chnce to read it yet, but hope that the shortage isn't a nation-wide dilema... sadly, sounds like it might be. What is the reason for this, any ideas?
Fred
Got it yesterday
Read it today
Love it, Peter, Great Job!!!
I liked it, overall. A little more comedic than I expected it to be, but that's not really a bad thing.
It's pretty tough to pin down when this would have occurred. The book mentions Dawn's birthday party (which was actually Buffy's birthday party) as having happened already, which puts it after the season 6 episode Older and Far Away. Halfrek was killed in season 7's Selfless, so it must take place late in season 6 or early in season 7 (unlikely, since Spike is still pretty crazy from getting his soul back at that point).
Maybe Spike swung by L.A. to cause trouble on his way to Africa...
I enjoyed it, the art and story was quite nice. The thing I liked most about it was all the variations on Halfrek's name Spike used. I know it's a bit from somewhere-- it's on the tip of my tongue but I can't put my finger on it (don't those metaphors mix so well together?). I want to say Monty Python, but that's not it. I want to say Looney Tunes, but that's not it. I want to say Marx Brothers, but that's not it. Gah.
Still, it was a nice meditation on the nature of vengeance and pointlessness of such. Oh yeah, I enjoyed the Billy Idol gag. Ironically, seeing Spike in comic book form brought up shades of John Constantine heh.
I have a chance of getting it in about week, but every online thing I go to has it sold out.
My store doesn't even seem to know it exists.
Tomorrow i have to go to Suwanee and there's a better stroe there.
I have also mentioned the new "Fallen Angel" series and intimated i hope they've ordered it, and the reaction varies from : "Huh?" to "What new 'Fallen Angel' series?"
received my copy a couple of days ago, it's very nicely done.
I'm pretty sure it takes place after buffy episode "older and far away" and before he got his soul.
I liked the writing alot, since halfrek is from a time when there were celtics i'm assuming she is as old or older then anyanka(who was around a 1000y old).
I loved the ending, paybacks a bitch.
As for the art, i like it more when it's completly drawn and not taken from pictures.
Can't wait for the next one-shot.
seeya
Another question: was William's last name ever revealed as "Pratt" prior to this story?
The review I posted at Newsarama.com
This is a book for the hard core fans of Buffy/Angel universe. I say that because the story is based on an in joke. An actress that was hired to play a love interest of a pre undead Spike in 1889 in season 5 of Buffy the Vampire slayer (Cecily), was rehired in season 6 to play a vengeance demon (Halfrek). When Spike and Halfrek came across each other at a party, they sort of looked at each other like they had already met. However, they never did any thing else on the show to elaborate on this. Along with the mystery of “what ever happened to Mrs Kitty Fantastico?” It became a huge subject of debate and many fan fictions were written about it. This one shot explains that all that.
Since I’m short on time, I’m not going to do the synopsis of the book it self. It would take a full thesis to explain all the references to things that happened in the shows Buffy and Angel, that you need to fully understand this single comic book. (Or you could go buy seasons 6 & 7 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Season 4 of Angel on DVD ;).) Of course all of us that have obsessed over the show will absolutely love the little references. This was written for the fans. As far as the pacing goes, it has the feel of one of the more comedic episodes of Angel. I would even say it flows more like a good episode of Singfeild.
As far as the art goes, all of the humans and people in human form are up their with Astonishing X-Men. The demons and vampires however are not as dynamic or detailed as they should be. This has been a complaint of mine on almost all of the Buffy related comic books that have ever come out (Frey being the one exception). It seems like there has been a standing order from Joss to have all of the demons toned down in the comic books. Almost to the point where the artist is so restricted that the monsters look less realistic than their latex and rubber counterparts on the TV shows. I think the Buffy books would have a much larger readership if the artist were able to draw stuff that would normally be to expensive to produce on the TV shows. Other than that, Fernando Goni does a good job.
Story A-
Art B
Oops! I meant seasons 5, 6, & 7 of Buffy in the second paragraph. And only one “That” in the last sentence of paragraph 1. :(
Absolutely brilliant, Peter. Finished reading it just now, and it really felt rewarding as a long-term fan of both shows to read such an amazing story. Highlight?
"And I prefer "melanin challenged", but que sodding sera sera."
MILES better than Angel: The Curse, probably because of all the latter's creative pressure of following up the TV series. I hope you'll find the creative nerve to have another go at the character.
By the way, Fernando's art really stood out for me this month. His backgrounds really bring LA to life, and in a month where I picked up Rob Liefeld's issue of Teen Titans, its a real relief. Easily my joint favourite Buffyverse published fiction, along with Monolith by John Pasarella, and Hollywood by Jeff Mariotte. Awesome.
I've been wondering...what would Spike have to say about the use of Angel's font for his logo?
Hey, Jeff! After wandering through my DVDs, there has never been any mention of the second name being "pratt". Sort of an ironic name, though, right?
And I reckon Spike would've taken the font anyway. Its in Spike's nature to take from Angel what is his...remember the epiosde, "Destiny"?
I'm still amazed by this one-shot. I want more!
$7.50
Ouch.
i read it. good stuff. but i didn't buy. sorry. i'll spend $8 on a novel of yours, but not on a comic book. hope it does well for you.
Joe V.
Does anyone know when Spike: Old Times is supposed to take place. The LA setting and Spike's commment as to why he is there seem to fit with the last season of Angel. His "haning out annoying someone" commment is a dead on description of the Spike/Angel dynamic in the last season, but that would mean Halfrek is already dead. This is a nagging question that took away from my enjoyment of an otherwise excellent piece of work.